Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Why I Won't Be Showing You My Budget...

Ever since I became the saving diva, frugal mama, or whatever else you want to call me, I have been asked to share my own budget with the world. Some have even gotten angry that I wouldn't. I haven't talked much about it, but I feel now is good a time as ever. Today I want to share with you why I will NOT be sharing my personal budget with you.

First of all, it is because budgets are personal. If I were to share my budget, I would be inviting a load of drama into my section of the web that I don't want here. Some would look at how we spend our money and say "Oh my she is depriving her family of fun things" (trust me I've heard it), while another group may say "Oh man she is spending too much on that! What is she thinking?" (yep heard that one too). Budgets are personal. No two budgets will look the same. They are personal because they are personalized for the people living them. Budgets are not a "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours" sort of thing.

No matter what your budget is, the bottom line is that you need to spend less than what you take home. If we are all doing that, then your budgets are working. If that's not happening, then you need to reevaluate the way you are spending your money.

Everything I share on this blog is a suggestion. These are the things that have helped my family, as we go throughout life. When I started this blog, we had a very small income. My hubby was a full time student and I was a stay at home Mom. Because of the season of life we were in, we made certain decisions regarding our finances. We are now in another season, where hubby has graduated and is currently studying to test for his CCNA. He is a computer guy. He did it in the military and has finally figured it out that it is what he wants to do. He thought it was law enforcement, but it ended up that God had another path for him and our family.

Every season that you are in may mean adding or changing the way your budget is working for your family.

When Hubby was working for The Nevada Highway Patrol, we were able to have our children in extra curricular activities. Those activities fit into our budget, but now that we are again on a smaller income, they do not.

Can you see how over time your budget will change and grow, as your family does? Being conscious of that is very important. Each month, sit down as a family and discuss the upcoming expenses. Hubby and I do this each month. We talk about bills coming up, doctor appointments, and such. Doing this at the end of each month has helped us stay on track, save money and even pay off a few bigger bills as well.

It can be done. So what was today's post about...well I guess it was about answering that question I always get asked. It was also about sharing how you can make a budget work for you. Do not compare your budget to someone else's, because we are all different and all have different values for our needs. Remember that please.

Don't get discouraged. You can do this! I know you can! You have a Savior who is by your side helping you along the way. Sit down as a family and take control of your finances.

Thank you for always encouraging me to share and create on this blog. It means so much to me.

12 comments:

I love budgets! Way back when, when I was the sole support for my family, I used to wake up in the middle of the night in a sweat over finances. So I'd get up and write up a budget. Then I could go back to sleep with some sense of control over my life. Sometimes I did this 4 or 4 nights/week. I don't need to budget now, but still do it. It's a great exercise in self-control, and feeling in charge of your finances. and yep, budgets are very personal.

We've been on the "way less" side and on the "way more" side at different times in our lives, and GOD always provides for our NEEDS! I've been a stay-at-home mom for 23 years and I wouldn't change a thing! Sometimes it's mighty challenging, but God always has our back! Thanks for sharing Danielle!

I don't think you should feel a need to share, but the concrete numbers you threw out in the $14,000/year post and your mention of $450/month on groceries and $40/month on family night really made me interested in your blog. I love having specific goals to strive for or compare my spending to. Just because I'm spending less than I'm making doesn't mean I couldn't be doing better and cutting back even more! Definitely keep some things personal, but i do appreciate your openness when possible.

Very good way to put it Danielle! I think of a line from "The Tightwad Gazette" where Amy talked about "if being frugal in your day to day life means that you can buy a fleet of snowmobiles with the money you save and is what you want, so be it!" The key is making sure that you are paying your basic needs first, not incurring credit card debt, and feeling financially secure. It's all about living within your means.

I just had a thought, what might help some people without you having to share your budget.I guess, you have a list and on one side Labels as Groceries, etc and on the other side you will have the costs, right? Perhaps you could thing about sharing the side with the Labels? It might help others to really think and how to begin a budget? I just had that thought and thougt about sharing it.

Like Ruth, in good times or lean, I have to have a budget written a month or two in advance to feel comfortable. Even if it is tight, I feel better when it is written. If you have a plan, then as the unexpected happens, you can see where to make adjustments to deal with it. Guessing doesn't work out to well.

And Danielle, in this new tell all world, there's nothing wrong with making a decision to keep some things private. Your reasoning was sound.